Gretchendz

Yes this. On a recent crossing one of the very kind bar staff explained how he would chargea drink as two under $12 drinks. Also, we drink wine with dinner so we simply ordered wine by the glass during meals. We don't need to collect wine bottles 🙂 We liked feeling like we were not going to facing a big bill at the end. Would rather pay upfront 🙂

Ouch! Sorry!

Wow-did not realize that. Sorry U.K. friends!

LOL--okay I guess I phrased that poorly! I actually like my family there 🙂

*grins* Does he understand there are REFUNDABLE deposits?

Just booked the Queen Victoria March 30, 2025 in a Princess Grill Suite. Have sailed the QM2 several times but a first on the Victoria. Love to sail out of Hamburg as we have family in Berlin.

This still true but it worth noting that the Coastal Voyages part of the operation is offering two new voyages starting this year that will make longer stops and be more typical cruise.  In summer it will be the Svalbard Express.  In the winter the North Cape Express. Both will be on the Trollfjord which is being renovated this spring.

Trollford is getting refurbished spring 2023. Expected back in service June 2023. Later in the year it will be doing the North Cape Express between Oslo and Bergen (and vice versa).

Here's the latest from Azamara concerning the loylty program changes: After February 1st, your Azamara clients will no longer earn cumulative points and have reciprocity with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International. We are mindful that it can take some time to adjust, but this is great news for all of us! Having our own loyalty program will allow us to more effectively implement their loyalty program suggestions and improve pre- and post-cruise guest experiences. We have a few reminders to share with you and your clients: We are happy to announce that they will get to keep the same loyalty account number! Their loyalty status will be retained in the new Azamara system for past guests who have sailed on Celebrity and Azamara. We will honor the loyalty points earned on any Celebrity sailing that concludes on or before February 1st.

Here's the word from Azamara: After February 1st, your Azamara clients will no longer earn cumulative points and have reciprocity with Celebrity and Royal Caribbean International. We are mindful that it can take some time to adjust, but this is great news for all of us! Having our own loyalty program will allow us to more effectively implement their loyalty program suggestions and improve pre- and post-cruise guest experiences. We have a few reminders to share with you and your clients: We are happy to announce that they will get to keep the same loyalty account number! Their loyalty status will be retained in the new Azamara system for past guests who have sailed on Celebrity and Azamara. We will honor the loyalty points earned on any Celebrity sailing that concludes on or before February 1st.

Highly recommend Golden Circle.

Just a reminder to folks (as this thread has gotten lengthy). You can buy the Carnival shares outright, of course. However if you have an investment account like an IRA, etc. you can direct your broker to buy 100 shares from your existing funds. No out-of-pocket expense that way.

We were on the October QM2 sailing Hamburg to NYC. We are fully vaccinated and boosted. Whenever we were indoors with people, other than eating, we stayed masked. I would estimate only 10-20% of passengers did so. On the Cruise Critic roll call for a cruise, several people reported arriving home with Covid. We have tested and are fine. And we flew through Newark! We are very careful and so far have been fine. This does not mean, however, that we don't understand there is risk. By the way, we spend a month on this trip--flew to Zurich, took an AMAWaterways Rhine cruise, spent almost a week in Berlin, Dresden and Hamburg, then took the QM2 home. My advice if you are worried, improve your odds by sanitizing your hands regularly (like every time I used a handrail!) wear a mask when indoors with others, and be fully vaccinated and boosted.

Well each TA has their own take on things. When I was very new, I never minded spending lots of time on the shoppers as I knew I was learning, like you say. However, things change fast in the cruise industry nowadays, especially since Covid. So something I learned about a cruise line even a few months ago needs to be re-researched because things are changing rapidly. Certainly something I knew about a cruise ship in 2019 cannot be relied upon. So, it still amounts to spending hours of research for someone who may never book with me. By the way, while we are on the subject, I am surprised how often people are not aware that with most lines, you can book it yourself as @Host Jazzbeau likes to, and then transfer the booking to a TA who will usually give you some OBC or whatever as a thank you. Just beware there is usually a time limit for doing this, often only 30 days. For the independent planner, it can be best of both worlds as you plan the exact cruise cabin, etc you want, but you can also can gain some extra perks.

This is very true. While there still many of us who still do not charge a planning or research fee, more and more are beginning to do so. It's for the obvious reason that most of us cannot afford to work for free, and doing complex travel research can take many hours. It is sad how often a prospective client asks a TA do all the research, then they book direct or elsewhere. So the model that @knoxclone describes is becoming more common in the U.S. However, for those of you who do all your research first like @Host Jazzbeau, know exactly what you want, and simply maybe want some extra perks, OBC, etc., there are still plenty of TAs who won't charge the fee.

By the way, if you are shopping between TAs, please be open with them about the fact. Until you actually book with one they are actually working for you for free. TAs understand that people price shop (we do too) but if you do 10 hours of research for someone and then they book elsewhere because they could save $50, it's very discouraging. It's actually exactly why more and more TAs are starting to charge an upfront planning fee. I don't mean to insult you or anyone else who does this in anyway. However, I find most travelers do not realize what is happening to the TA in that situation. Just please be open with them about the fact so they can choose how much time to invest.

Which line was that? It sounds like a good price if it includes all tours, beer and wine, and meals. Generally, in August on one of the preferred lines (whatever that happens to mean to someone) you would be looking at $5,000 and up per person depending on cabin. So--yes it is a good price, all other things being equal. Be careful of just going with the cheapest--most of the European river cruise lines are fine, but a few not so much. Look carefully at the reviews for that cruise line and ship. By the way do either of you happen to be employed as active medical professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, hospital staff, lab technicians) and active first responders (Emergency Medical Services/paramedics) with valid ID. You can get$1,000 off any 2023 sailing with AMA. Although that may be US only, your TA could check.

As to fresh fruit daily--and this in Princess as well as Queens--there is a little card that you might miss on which you can order fresh fruit daily. We didn't use it, but it was certainly there.

I'm not even sure the order is the same. We just returned from the Hamburg to NYC crossing in October in a Princess Grill suite. The nice thing is they let you stay in your cabin rather than being herded into a public area. IMHO one of the few good things resulting from COVID, I hope it continues. Despite being in Princess, our disembarkation time was 9:20. It was fine with us as our flight was late afternoon. I suspect that, like other cruise lines, they take your flight time, where appropriate, into account. We were getting our own transportation. It was fine with us-plenty of time for one last breakfast in the Princess Grill 🙂

For budget friendly, I there are several good options, such as Riviera. I suggest you speak to a travel agent who works a lot with European river cruises.

Good point. Probably not.

If two of you are drinkers, and two are not, just have the two drinkers officially assigned to same cabin and get them packages. Then don't get the package for the two non-drinkers. No one cares who sleeps in which cabin really. Just bear in mind the two non-drinkers will be paying for anything they do drink, including specialty coffees, and soda pop.

So here's my personal opinion...usually we do not the drinks packages because, although we do drink, the dollar break even point is usually 10-15 drinks per day each....even with specialty coffees and soda pop, we just don't drink that much. HOWEVER, on our QM2 crossing a couple of weeks ago, we got one free as part of a promotional package. I must say we enjoyed the freedom of only concerning ourselves if the drinks were over $12. There were plenty of decent choices. It was nice not to be thinking about the ever increasing bar tab we would face at the end of the cruise. Instead of a bottle of wine at lunch or dinner, we simply ordered wine by the glass. That added relaxation has me rethinking my previous position against the packages.

I've sailed many time on Princess and just did my first river cruise on AMA--you will love it. Obviously, smaller and more intimate. Service impeccable. Great excursions. Don't expect entertainment (other than a good lounge performer most nights) --the journey is the entertainment!

True. I just came back from an AMA Rhine cruise and loved it. Although technically not as all-inclusive re alcohol as other lines, we felt we had plenty as they provide: Wine and beer at lunch and dinner that flow freely A one hour pre-dinner cocktail hour Plus some special occasion cocktails--on ours they brought out Rudesheim coffee (coffee with brandy) while sailing the Rhine Gorge (so beautiful!) Not that the décor means as much to me as the cruise but I find Uniworld's decorating style a bit over the top. Also, the AMA cabins are very well designed.